Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Call Apple Support and explain the problem you have with the graphics.  Do not mention your attempt to induce the problem.  Tell them that there is no Apple Sore near you.  They will probably send you packing material to send it -- at Apple's cost. -- to the nearest Apple Service Center.

Good luck.

Hello, my 3 questions appear at end:

I have a yet-to-be-used -- and therefore "new" -- Late 2011 Macbook Pro - (manufactured middle week of May 2012 - (production run ended in June; bought it new from Apple in July).

I am only now starting to prep it for use. I stopped into my Apple Store yesterday for the purpose of downloading Capitan 10.11.1

I mentioned to Genius guy that I had discovered over recent weeks (and collected lots of material about) the long saga of the early/late 2011 MBPs.

I told him that my model wouldn't experience enough up time to make the issue appear by end of Apple program on February 27. As we all know, for most people it seems to take about 2 years of MBP usage before the issue emerges.

He offered to run the Video Test.

I waffled about that for a minute thinking, "What does it truly matter? If my unit has the issue it will not manifest until after the repair program ends."

Despite that the MBP underside did not get very hot from this Video Test -- (heating the hardware up seems to be one purpose of the test which I did not know in advance[!]) -- it left me wondering whether it was smart to get that test done.

- Question 1: Was the stressing/heating due to the Video Test a potential threat to making the problem appear sooner than it ordinarily might? Was it prudent vs. problematic to do the test? -- [I really don't think that (IMO) this test would reveal *Anything* on a unit for which the issue has not yet actually manifested.]

- Question 2: Were the "end of production run" units like mine (May 2012) less vulnerable to having the issue?... Or were ALL units from the very beginning of the "Early 2011" run -- to the very end of the "Late 2011" run (i.e. June 2012 units) fully and equally vulnerable?

- Question 3: Any ballpark guesses/opinions on what percent of all Early/Late 2011 units produced would see the problem appear under sufficient long-term use? Are we talking a certain small subset...or half...or more?

Bill,

You've left us hanging.  So, I gather, your MBP was tested.  What was the result?

Your questions are good; however, only Apple can answer them.  And as you know, officially Apple does not monitor these forums.  Your best bet for answers is the Genius Bar.

Good luck.

Addendum: I am thinking I should avoid upgrading MOUNTAIN LION on this unit to EL CAPITAN...because in this thread there were a couple reports that just upgrading to YOSEMITE made the issue manifest...due to heaver CPU tax.

:::

To Richard (thanks):

> What was the result?

Test came out "no issue found." -- But I think it would be a rare instance where the Video Test would report an "Issue found" for units where nothing had yet cropped up for the user.

:::

I'll try to answer my three questions from above:

QUESTION 1: Was the stressing/heating due to the Video Test a potential threat to making the problem appear sooner than it ordinarily might? Was it prudent vs. problematic to do the test?

GUESS: A wash --

a.) Good to run the test in the small likelihood that the Test were able to push the issue into manifestation and thence be coverable by the program (even w/o Apple Care);

b.) Bad to test because it simply heat-stressed the unit. Still...one heat-up was probably not a big deal since most people only see issue after about 24 months of use.

:::

QUESTION 2: Were the "end of production run" units like mine (May 2012) less vulnerable to having the issue?

GUESS: No, equally vulnerable; vulnerability present in *all* units (Early and Late 2011) due to all having same design.

:::

QUESTION 3: Any ballpark guesses/opinions on what percent of all Early/Late 2011 units produced would see the problem appear under sufficient long-term use?

GUESS: Probably all units given enough time and use.

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the issues im currently having with my 'authorized Apple dealer'

Last year the  logic board in my 2011 MBP was replaced two times as I was having the same issues of which everyone else in this thread has been having. For the past year I have been using gfxStatus to somehow cradle my laptop to a semi-working state but just last week it has been freezing and blue screening repeatedly so I take it to the same people who fixed it last time.

Now today they are trying to tell me that it will cost me $150 to 'repair' the MacBook and they are also trying to tell me that the problem is software related and that they need to wipe my HD ?? Excuse my language but what the ****. I even tried telling them about the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program but they do not believe that is the issue at hand ??

How should I go about this? My nearest Apple store is 3 hours away.

Being stereotypical aren't we? Only included my email because I was new here and didn't know I'll be notified by email if there were any replies to my post. I din't want to have to be checking this thread every now and then. 

(at)bwinward22,

Here's the link to the announcement of the repair extension program:  https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/.  Note the description of the Repair Process.  You have two options, either either carry-in or mail-in.  Carry-in requires you take your machine to either an Apple Retail Store or to  an Apple Authorized Service Provider.  Is your "authorized Apple dealer" an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider?  If not, that might explain why he doesn't know about the repair extension program.  In any case, you may wish to exercise the option of mailing-in your machine to an Apple Service Center.

What disturbs me about your "authorized Apple dealer's" behavior is his conclusion that the problem is software-related.  Presumably, the previous two times it was not.  What evidence does he offer for his diagnosis?  I suspect the logic is something like, "It can't be hardware, because we exchanged the logic board twice."  Insist on learning more.  What tests pointed to hardware problems the previous two times that produced different results this time?  Show him reports in this thread of machines that had their logic boards exchanged three or more times until Apple finally gave up and replaced the machines.

Finally, did I understand correctly that your dealer wants $150 to reinstall OS X and run some tests?  Isn't that highway robbery?  For that kind of money you can buy a small  external hard disk, install OS X on it yourself, and boot from it.  If the graphic issues still remain, your dealer will have to think of something else.

Hope this helps.

Seyi38 wrote:

 

Being stereotypical aren't we? Only included my email because I was new here and didn't know I'll be notified by email if there were any replies to my post. I din't want to have to be checking this thread every now and then.

What is your question.

bwinward22 wrote:

 

Hello,

 

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the issues im currently having with my 'authorized Apple dealer'

 

Last year the  logic board in my 2011 MBP was replaced two times as I was having the same issues of which everyone else in this thread has been having. For the past year I have been using gfxStatus to somehow cradle my laptop to a semi-working state but just last week it has been freezing and blue screening repeatedly so I take it to the same people who fixed it last time.

 

Now today they are trying to tell me that it will cost me $150 to 'repair' the MacBook and they are also trying to tell me that the problem is software related and that they need to wipe my HD ?? Excuse my language but what the ****. I even tried telling them about the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program but they do not believe that is the issue at hand ??

 

How should I go about this? My nearest Apple store is 3 hours away.

If you want it resolved you have a 3 hour drive, each way. Or you can try to find another AASP that is more competent than the one that wants your money.

Hi, I have a  MACBOOK PRO  17-inch, Early 2011. I got the computer June 2012 and almost two years to the day, my extra 23" apple monitor began with the streaking, lines and split page, all the stuff that happens when your graphic card begins it's thing. I unplugged the monitor because I thought it had given up the ghost and my computer ran OK for a couple days and then it too, did the same thing. I reported it on here and ws told to use the gfx download, which I did. I have been running with it like that till a couple months ago. I had updated some of my software when this problem first happened and I stopped because it didn't do any good. I am still running MAC OS X Lion 10.7.5. My computer has the Processor 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 with Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 and the Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB.

The last couple months it has been freezing at odd times and I have had to try several times to reboot it. I no longer get the weird screen or the half and half exchanged sides, but when the cursor freezes and you have to spend a half hour or more to get it up and running again is very annoying. Do you guys think this is all related to the problem these computers have,  or does it sound like something else?

(at)Ella70,

Are you aware of the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues ?  Pay particular attention to the last sentence.  After February 27, 2016 your machine will no longer be eligible for the program.

Take pictures of your MBP experiencing the video issues that you describe and decide whether you want to carry it in or mail it in to Apple, then follow the instructions accordingly.  Be sure to make a backup of your hard disk before embarking on either course of action.  Do not waste any more time pampering your machine.  You want to get it fixed for free as soon as possible.  Some people have experienced recurrence of the issues even after repair and had their machine repaired multiple times under the program.  You want to be able to do the same, if necessary, because after several attempts to fix it (reports vary here, three or four) Apple replaces it with a new model.  Of course, it won't be a 17" model, as Apple no longer sells them, but ...

Good luck.

Think thats a better idea.

So they ring me up today and say that they ran their hardware tests and that nothing came back as faulty so he said it is not covered under the Repair Extension Program?? Yet it clearly is!! Has anyone else had this issue with the hardware tests coming back clear?

Anyway they are installing a new OSX and I'm picking it up in a few days time all for $150.... ********. Give it a weeks time and I'm going to have the exact same ******* problem as I've had all along.

Do these repairers get paid by Apple for the extension program or do they just want my money?

So Bbinward (and others), I see people getting their macbooks fixed even when they bought it in 2011. But I read; "three years from its original date of sale, whichever provides longer coverage for you." < so after three years from the bought-date it's no longer within the program? I bought mine around march/april 2011.

At the moment I destroyed my HDD as well, since I had to reboot so many times because it kept on using the Discrete GPU.. So let's hope I can fix my disk, retreive my stuff, and go to the mac store when I get back home (in 12 days).

So please anyone, do not boot>shut off with button>boot>shut off etc. too much!

ps. if anyone can be of any help with cloning and fixing my HD; my thread is here: Re: Help needed backing up and fixing my hard disk

(at)Letmejustfreakingreadsupport,

The last sentence in the announcement of the repair extension program reads in full:

The program covers affected MacBook Pro models until February 27, 2016 or three years from its original date of sale, whichever provides longer coverage for you.

So, if you purchased your affected MBP on or after March 1, 2013, your MBP is covered under the repair extension program up to three years thereafter.  If you purchased it before, it is covered until February 27, 2016.

My MBP is within those dates...

What I'm saying is that they are running the hardware test on my machine and it is coming back with no Graphics card problems. Why is this? I've already had my logic board replaced twice with no avail. Looks like there's going to be a third replacement board...